Nuclear structure to unveil the nature of neutrinos and dark matter

• Project/Area Number: 18K03639
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 15010:Theoretical studies related to particle-, nuclear-, cosmic ray and astro-physics
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Menendez Javier 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 特任研究員 (70807635)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: Double-beta decay / Double electron capture / Ab initio calculations / Dark matter scattering / Meson-exchange current / Double beta decay / Ab initio nuclear theory / Nuclear structure

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In FY2019 we have accomplished the following main achievements:
* Publication of the first shell model prediction of the two-neutrino double electron capture nuclear matrix element of xenon-124.
* First principles calculation of the nuclear structure of nickel-78. A comparison with the results measured at RIBF RIKEN is published in the top journal Nature. This calculation is a first step towards first principles studies of the double-beta decay of germanium-76.
* First principles calculation of the nuclear structure of titanium-62. A comparison with the results measured at RIBF RIKEN is accepted for publication in Phys. Lett. B. This calculation is a first step towards first principles studies of the double-beta decay of calcium-48.

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] Technical University Darmstadt(ドイツ)
• [Int'l Joint Research] TRIUMF(カナダ)
• [Int'l Joint Research] University of Washington(米国)
• [Int'l Joint Research] Technical University Darmstadt(ドイツ)
• [Int'l Joint Research] Tohoku University(日本)
• [Journal Article] Two-neutrino double electron capture on 124Xe based on an effective theory and the nuclear shell model (2019)
  • Author(s): E. A. Coello Perez, J. Menendez and A. Schwenk
  • Journal Title: Physics Letters B Volume: 797 Pages: 134885-134885
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.physletb.2019.134885
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] 78Ni revealed as a doubly magic stronghold against nuclear deformation (2019)
  • Author(s): Taniuchi R.他
  • Journal Title: Nature Volume: 569 Issue: 7754 Pages: 53-58
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1155-x
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Shell evolution of N40 isotones towards 60Ca: First spectroscopy of 62Ti (2019)
  • Author(s): M. L. Cortes and SEASTAR collaboration, J. D. Holt, S. M. Lenzi, J. Menendez, F. Nowacki, K. Ogata, A. Poves, T. R. Rodriguez, A. Schwenk, J. Simonis and S. R. Stroberg, and K. Yoshida
  • Journal Title: Physics Letters B Volume: In print
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] First Results on the Scalar WIMP-Pion Coupling, Using the XENON1T Experiment (2019)
  • Author(s): XENON Collaboration, M. Hoferichter, P. Klos, J. Menendez, and A. Schwenk
  • Journal Title: Physical Review Letters Volume: 122 Issue: 7 Pages: 071301-071301
  • DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.122.071301
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Nuclear structure factors for general spin-independent WIMP-nucleus scattering (2019)
  • Author(s): M. Hoferichter, P. Klos, J. Menendez, and A. Schwenk
  • Journal Title: Physical Review D Volume: 99 Issue: 5 Pages: 055031-055031
  • DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.99.055031
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Precision measurement of the 136Xe two-neutrino ββ spectrum in KamLAND-Zen and its impact on the quenching of nuclear matrix elements (2019)
  • Author(s): KamLAND-Zen collaboration, J. Menendez, R. Dvornicky, and F. Simkovic
  • Journal Title: Physical Review Letters Volume: In print
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Beta decay in the nuclear shell model: capabilities, limitations, uncertainties (2019)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: ECT* Workshop “Precise beta decay calculations for searches for new physics”
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Relating double-beta decay to nuclear properties at hand (2019)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: Neutrino Nuclear Responses for Double Beta Decays and Astro Neutrinos
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Nuclear physics and double-beta decay (2019)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: Wilhelm und Else Heraeus-Seminar “Massive Neutrinos”
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Double-beta decay calculations: new tests and opportunities (2019)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: INT Program “Nuclear Structure at the Crossroads”
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Neutrinoless double-beta decay: novel insights on nuclear matrix elements (2019)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: International Nuclear Physics Conference, 2019
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Double Gamow-Teller transitions in connection to neutrinoless double-beta decay (2018)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: ECT* Workshop: Exploring the role of electro-weak currents in Atomic Nuclei
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Current status of neutrinoless double beta decay matrix elements (2018)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: 13th Conference on the Intersections of Particle and Nuclear Physics (CIPANP 2018)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Neutrinoless double-beta decay and direct dark matter detection (2018)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: From nucleons to nuclei: enabling discovery for neutrinos, dark matter and more
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Double charge exchanges for double beta decays (2018)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: Neutrinos and Dark Matter in Nuclear Physics (NDM18)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Recent progress on neutrinoless double-beta decay nuclear matrix elements (2018)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: Double-Beta Decay and Underground Science
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Nuclear observables to constrain neutrinoless double-beta decay (2018)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: Fifth Joint Meeting of the Nuclear Physics Divisions of the American Physical Society and Japanese Physical Society
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Nuclear matrix elements to unveil the nature of neutrinos and dark matter (2018)
  • Author(s): Javier Menendez
  • Organizer: Shapes and Symmetries in Nuclei: from Experiment to Theory (SSNET’18)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited